Ah, retirement. For some of us it’s something from a faraway future, something we think of every now and then. Something we’re afraid we might not ever get to experience, as the age of retirement is being pushed back every couple of years. For others, it’s a reality in the very foreseeable future. Maybe you still have to wait a couple of years but even then, it’s rarely too soon to start thinking about your retirement plans. What do you still want to do before reaching that critical stadium in your life? Are you prepared? Where do you want to spend your days once you’re retired?
That last question varies hugely per person. Many of us don’t want to change their lives too much once they’re done working, as they want to stay close to their children, grandchildren and friends. And there’s a lot to say for that. However, changing countries after you’re retired can be a game changer as well but you have to choose carefully. Depending on where you move to, your retirement fund can stretch very far or it may not do the trick at all. So where to go to, you ask?
In order to answer that question, we’ll have to take a look at the Annual Global Retirement Index. That list is put together every year by International Living and takes many factors into account. There are objective ones, based on the cost of living, real estate, healthcare and so on. And then there are personal opinions from real people on the ground, giving an insight on how it really feels to live in a certain place. Those two combined can give us a pretty good overview of the best places to retire in 2023.
What are the best places to retire in Europe in 2023?
1. Portugal
With an overall score of 87,43%, Portugal clearly makes an ideal place to live in once you’re retired. Even though the country isn’t big, there’s plenty of regions to choose from: city or countryside, coast or hillside, wet or dry.
2. Spain
Sure, with 78,14%, Spain comes well after Portugal on the list. But there’s a lot to say for it, like the language: most of us do speak a little Spanish and it’s not too difficult to learn. And if you’re not a fan of the mainland, you can still move to one of the many Spanish islands.
3. Greece
Just after Spain comes Greece, with 76,86%. Clearly, the Mediterranean is a pretty great place to live at and Greece has especially a lot on offer for the history geeks amongst us. Cristal clear waters and Greek temples, what more do you need in life?
4. France
Of course, la douce France couldn’t miss on the list. The land of wine, baguettes and cheese gets a score of 75,43% and it’s not that hard to see why. With many regions and climates to choose from, it might well be the country with the largest versatility out of the five countries.
5. Italy
However, let’s not forget Italy. If you’ve always dreamed of stuffing your face with pasta, pizza and gelato once you’re old, this has to be the destination for you. There’s so many beautiful regions to choose from that it will definitely not be an easy choice but oh man, your belly won’t regret it.
